ATLANTA — Jalen Hurts strolled to his seat for postgame interviews in the bowels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium wearing a blue blazer, khaki slacks and a gold chain. Of all the Alabama players to meet with the media, the sophomore was the only one dressed in anything spiffier than a wind suit. Perhaps that is just representative of how Hurts sees himself in Year Two as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback.

Hurts helped lead No. 1 Alabama to what became a dominating 24-7 season-opening victory against third-ranked Florida State on Saturday night. His statistics weren’t eye-popping — he completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards, rushed for 55 yards and threw for a single touchdown — but Hurts was poised and confident against a Florida State defense that may well be the second-best in the country.

He didn’t turn the ball over or make any glaring mistakes under the bright — emphasis on bright — lights inside Atlanta’s new football palace, during what was sold as college football’s greatest-ever opening-week contest.

As a true freshman last season, Hurts led Alabama to an SEC title and the College Football Playoff championship game, where the Tide lost to Clemson. So naturally, critics spent the offseason picking Hurts apart.

Maybe he wasn’t ready for that big stage. His passing wasn’t up to snuff. Maybe this year’s freshman future star — Tua Tagovailoa — would storm into Tuscaloosa and steal Hurts’ job.

Tagovailoa didn’t enter the game for a single snap Saturday.

“I’m not a freshman anymore,” Hurts said. “I played in a national championship game. I’ve done those things. No stage should be too big.”

Hurts’ individual highlight came early in the second quarter, when he softly floated a perfect pass into Calvin Ridley’s arms on a 53-yard touchdown that put Alabama up 10-3.

Accuracy and arm strength? Check.

None of this is to say Hurts was perfect Saturday. Ridley accounted for 82 of Hurts’ 96 passing yards. The Crimson Tide converted only 3 of their 16 third-down attempts. Hell, Hurts completed more passes to himself than he did to any non-Ridley wideout. One of Hurts’ first-quarter passes was swatted into the air, and Hurts secured it for a 1-yard loss.

“I thought Jalen did a good job,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “He did what we asked him to do. I think a lot of the things that could have been really good plays for Jalen didn’t turn out so well because we didn’t protect very well. Now, he will tell you that sometimes he’s responsible for that because he can redirect the protection, but there were other times where he made mental errors up front and didn’t block them.”

Tough performances by both defenses — especially Alabama’s — and a plethora of special teams gaffes were the bigger stories coming out of the game billed as the “GOAT” — Greatest Of All Time — by game organizers.

But Hurts turned in a solid and professional — even if somewhat muted — performance.

“I can say I did,” Hurts responded when asked if he felt more confident Saturday than he did last season. “I’m sure you all expect me to feel more confident, just with my maturity and being prepared.”

(Top photo: Brett Davis / USA TODAY Sports)

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Jason Kersey covers Oklahoma football for The Athletic. He previously covered the Sooners for The Oklahoman and was named Beat Writer of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America for that work in 2016. Follow Jason on Twitter @jasonkersey.